NO national park at Mount Saint Helens.

[whacker1]

Thank You for posting - Any additional information would be very helpful as it becomes available.

[KillzElk]

The public meetings on the recommendations are March 30th at the Cowlitz County Administration Building, 207 4th Ave. North, Kelso, and April 13 at the Camas Police Department Community Room, 2100 NE Third Street. Both meetings are from 6 to 9 p.m. The committee meets on May 14 to finalize its recommendations.

[KillzElk]

I see you (InsideWDFW) missed another great meeting  Maybe you can make the trip to  voice your opion to just one thank you,, I see that you are trying  represent or misrepresent the WDFW you should speak out at a public meeting .. Angry Bash
Thank You bbarnes for making the trip to every meeting in Wa. to help everyone in the Wa area out.. All that you were not there would have liked the statement bbarnes had for the panel very priceless Paul Pierce stands silent after   Angry Bash ...

Anyways see the full article here...

Mount St. Helens panel hears from public on draft plan Monday, March 30, 2009
Link:
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/31/top_story/doc49d16007f408c282374700.txt

Or read below...
The Congressional Mount St. Helens Advisory Committee braced for plenty of criticism during public comment on their recent draft recommendations Monday. Instead, most speakers agreed the volcano should remain run by the U.S. Forest Service with better funding and upkeep.

Monday was the first of two public comment sessions to get reaction to the committee’s draft recommendations for the future of the volcano and the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Chief among the recommendations is that the mountain remain under Forest Service management instead of becoming the state’s fifth national park.

Fifteen of the 24 speakers specifically supported Forest Service management compared to two who said they favored the National Park Service. Others did not give a specific preference.

Forest Service supporters said they want to maintain and expand recreational access and feel national park status will bring a whole new set of restrictions. They also supported increased and more stable funding for the monument, similar to National Park levels.

Bruce Barnes, of the Mount St. Helens Rescue group, said he avoids national parks because of the fees, restrictions and the long waiting period to get campground reservations.

“It scares me to death to think the area ... may be in danger of changing dramatically by being designated a national park,” the Vancouver resident said. “Never in a million years did I think I would have to plan months in advance to visit my own backyard.”

Thomas Mueller, who grew up in Germany, said it’s a blessing to have so much open land to explore in America. The Castle Rock resident and avid mountain biker has been to both Mount Rainier National Park and Mount St. Helens and said he vastly prefers the Forest Service model.

“Rainier is almost like a guided tour,” he said. “If something like that happens to Mount St. Helens, I’d be very sad.”

Representatives from Weyerhaeuser Co. and Longview Timber also favor Forest Service management, saying they prefer the Forest Service’s fewer restrictions on adjacent timber land.

Sean Smith, northwest regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association, said he understands there are strong feelings on either side. He added, though, that most communities faced with the same decision end up opting for the national park status and its increased funding and economic opportunities.

Smith also said there are a range of national park designations that could allow some hunting and fishing.

Several speakers urged the group to specifically address the adjacent High Lakes area to keep it from being further developed.

The “biggest mistake” made when the monument was created was that the High Lakes area wasn’t included, said Darcy Mitchem of Toutle. “We get very few do-overs in life, here’s your chance,” she said.

The committee also has received about 34 e-mail comments from individuals, most of them favoring Forest Service management, said co-chairman Paul Pearce, a Skamania County commissioner. In addition, about 640 e-mails supporting national park status have been generated from a link on the National Parks Conservation Association Web page.

About 50 people attended Monday’s session, fewer than organizers expected. Cowlitz County Commissioner Axel Swanson, one of the committee co-chairmen, said he takes that to mean “we got it partially right.”

Pearce added that even those who support the national parks can agree with the committee’s recommendations of increased visitor access, overnight accommodations and funding.

The second public comment session is 6 to 9 p.m. April 13 in the Camas Police Department Community Room, 2100 NE Third St., Camas. Written comments can be submitted to the committee’s Web site, www.skamaniacounty.org/SHAC.htm

The final report — to be written May 14 in Longview — will be sent to U.S. Reps. Brian Baird and Norm Dicks and U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray for consideration.

Related articles:

Public access to High Lakes may require major public funding  (March 20)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/20/this_day/doc49c2c364e563f168529464.txt

Mount St. Helens National Park supporters aren't backing down  (March 5)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/05/area_news/doc49b099585c73b861331943.txt

The vision for Mount St. Helens  (March 2)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/02/top_story/doc49ab8d8a97d82576849264.txt

[saudog]

Barnes, you stole my line!  I'm glad you were there to attend and I'm sorry I didn't call you back yet.  Thanks for speaking up!


Bruce Barnes, of the Mount St. Helens Rescue group, said he avoids national parks because of the fees, restrictions and the long waiting period to get campground reservations.

“It scares me to death to think the area ... may be in danger of changing dramatically by being designated a national park,” the Vancouver resident said. “Never in a million years did I think I would have to plan months in advance to visit my own backyard.”

[bbarnes]

Saudog I gave you recignition for the single best letter i have ever read in my life, your passion about the area and your experience were heart felt.Only someone that has been as many places as you and i,have could feel the same way.It silenced the crowd that was in amazement and put thing into perspective ,about our freedoms and public lands.Thanks you have gained a lifelong friend,respectfully yours B Barnes keeping the public lands public.

[Elkaholic daWg]

  SAWS Alert today.............

 Can't get a lot easier than this......................



SAWS Action Alert: Mt St Helens Advisory Committee - Future of the Mounument‏
From:  SAWS - Washington (daveh-wa@snowmobile-alliance.org) 
Sent: Tue 3/31/09 4:44 PM
To:  SAWS-WA@SnowmobileAlliance.org

SAWS Members,
 
Today I received the request below from Carl Schmalenberger, the President of the Mt St Helens Tracriders, with a request for help from our SAWS members.
 
Please write a short letter to state that you support the Mt St Helens Monument remaining under Forest Service management, and that you do not support a proposal to have the monument moved under control and management of the National Park Service.
 
We certainly do not want to see Mt St Helens become the next Yellowstone National Park saga attempting an outright ban on snowmobile use.
 
Comments may be emailed to SHACComments@co.skamania.wa.us
 
Refer to the request below from Carl and below that a copy of the Mt St Helens Advisory Committee Press Release.
 
Thank you in advance for responding to this request.
 
 
Dave Hurwitz
Chairman - Snowmobile Alliance of Western States
 
______________________________________________________________________

Dave,

FYI, An update on the Mt St Helens Advisory Committee.
 
Could you forward this to the SAWS members and urge them to send a short email with there comments?

The committee has received about 34 emails from individuals (most favoring the forest service) and about 640 form letters from a link generated from the National Parks Conservation Association web page.
 
It appears that the committee is taking in to account that the 640 comments are one form letter.
 
I was dissapointed with the local turn out at the first public comment meeting.
There were about 20 speakers ( 15 for forest service and 2 for parks)
There is one more next month ( place and time in the press release).

I realize it can be hard to make a meeting in person, but lets see if we can get an increase in
email comments for keeping Mt St Helens in the forest service.

Let everyone know it just takes a minute to send a brief email in there own words supporting
the forest service.
 
The attatched press release is the rough draft of the committees recomendations.
 

Thanks for your efforts and the time it takes.
I have a hard enough time keeping up with our local issues.
Give me a call if you have any questions.
 
Thanks,

Carl Schmalenberger
President
Mt St Helens Tracriders
 

[bbarnes]

Elkaliolic dawg Thanks for that post all of the user groups are starting to get it pass it along to everyone you know .110 thousand acres is at stake.

[TONTO]

I attended the meeting,I declined to speek,on later thought maybe I should have,but my sentament seemed to be shared amung many that did.I do apreciate the dedication by all involved.

[bbarnes]

Tonto next time introduce your self thanks for going and i hope to see you at the camas meeting B Barnes

[Elkaholic daWg]

Blue Ribbon Coalition Alert today



Mt St Helens Advisory Committee - Future of the Monument‏
From:  BRC Alert (noreply@sharetrails.org) 
Sent: Wed 4/01/09 10:26 AM

BLUERIBBON COALITION PARTNER ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Attention Washington, Oregon and Idaho Recreationists!

Our partners over at the Snowmobile Alliance of Western States (SAWS)  just sent us an important "CALL TO ACTION" over a serious threat to motorized recreation in Washington. Please do what ever you can to help and pass this information along to everyone you know.

I have pasted a copy of the email below; please take a couple of minutes to read over the information.

Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject:  SAWS Action Alert: Mt St Helens Advisory Committee - Future of the Monument
From:  "SAWS Idaho" <ScottC-ID@snowmobile-alliance.org>
Date:  Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:05:20 -0600
To:  <SAWS-ID@SnowmobileAlliance.org>, <SAWS-UT@SnowmobileAlliance.org>, <SAWS-CO@SnowmobileAlliance.org>, <SAWS-WY@SnowmobileAlliance.org>

SAWS Members,

Today I received the request below from Carl Schmalenberger, the President of the Mt St Helens Tracriders, with a request for help from our SAWS members.

Please write a short letter to state that you support the Mt St Helens Monument remaining under Forest Service management, and that you do not support a proposal to have the monument moved under control and management of the National Park Service.

We certainly do not want to see Mt St Helens become the next Yellowstone National Park saga attempting an outright ban on snowmobile use.

Comments may be emailed to SHACComments@co.skamania.wa.us

Refer to the request below from Carl and below that a copy of the Mt St Helens Advisory Committee Press Release.

Thank you in advance for responding to this request.

Dave Hurwitz
Chairman - Snowmobile Alliance of Western States


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave,

FYI, An update on the Mt St Helens Advisory Committee.
 
Could you forward this to the SAWS members and urge them to send a short email with there comments?

The committee has received about 34 emails from individuals (most favoring the forest service) and about 640 form letters from a link generated from the National Parks Conservation Association web page.
 
It appears that the committee is taking in to account that the 640 comments are one form letter.
 
I was disappointed with the local turn out at the first public comment meeting.
There were about 20 speakers (15 for forest service and 2 for parks)
There is one more next month (place and time in the press release).

I realize it can be hard to make a meeting in person, but lets see if we can get an increase in email comments for keeping Mt St Helens in the forest service.

Let everyone know it just takes a minute to send a brief email in there own words supporting the forest service.
 
The attached press release is the rough draft of the committee's recommendations.
 
Thanks for your efforts and the time it takes.
I have a hard enough time keeping up with our local issues.
Give me a call if you have any questions.
 
Thanks,

Carl Schmalenberger
President
Mt St Helens Tracriders


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mt St Helens Advisory Committee

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Draft Recommendations on the Future of the Monument

The congressionally impaneled advisory committee met in an open public retreat session on February 27th & 28th in Longview to work through draft recommendations on the future of the monument.  This followed a year of public meetings held in locations throughout SW Washington.  These recommendations are designed to be released to the public for public comment before the committee adopts final recommendations for presentation to our Congressional delegation.

The Committee has agreed to the following meeting schedule:

Monday March 30th for Public Comment in Kelso in the Commissioners Hearing Room from 6-9pm.

Monday April 13th for Public Comment in the Camas Police Department Community Room, 2100 NE 3rd St., Camas, WA from 6-9pm.

Thursday May 14th all day at the Cowlitz County Regional Conference Center for drafting final recommendations. Open to the public.  No Public Comment.

Comments may also be emailed to SHACComments@co.skamania.wa.us

The draft recommendations are listed as follow :

ACCESS

Properly fund maintenance of all trails, roads and facilities
Improve and expand access
o   Fund and build 504 all-weather road extension from Coldwater to US12
o   Fund and build 503 spur all-weather road from Cougar to Carson
o   Upgrade FS Road 25 to all-weather road, Level 5 Standard

INFRASTRUCTURE

Reinvest in Coldwater Ridge as an overnight destination to include science, interpretation, education, visitor services, food and university partnerships
Insure visitor and emergency communication capability around the Monument
Develop and fund an Emergency Response Plan
Provide adequate, non-federal utility service where needed in the Monument
Shift responsibility for the Spirit Lake tunnel to the Corp of Engineers
RECREATION

Recreational opportunities should be broadened to embrace a diverse and responsible use of the forest
Adequately fund and maintain recreational facilities
Create camping facilities using  Lower Falls as a template
Recommend more recreational activities including camping and fishing in the Restricted Area that are compatible with the Act by creating a Scientific and Recreational Advisory Committee to vet recreational opportunities and suggestions in the Restricted Area for the managing agency
Designate seasonal recreational activity locations for motorized and non-motorized participants
CONSERVATION

The Restricted Area should be left to unimpeded recovery maintaining the geological and ecological processes as well as the integrity of the features
Visitor impacts and carrying capacity of the Restricted Area will be consistent with the goals of the Act
No road building in the Monument
Support coordinated partnerships with all stakeholders to control invasive species
Maintain habitat protection
Encourage partnerships with voluntary organizations
 SCIENCE

Expand science funding with specific emphasis on more direct public education and broader interpretive and applied science programs
Dedicate the Monument Scientist to science
Provide an expanded science experience for visitors
Promote the Monument as a scientific laboratory
o   Involve the universities and community colleges
o   Develop new technologies

INDUSTRY

Continue to develop relationships with industrial land owners bordering the Monument
Encourage relationships with emerging technologies and industry in remote sensing, robotics, nanotechnology and renewable energy
Create an R&D laboratory setting for technology applications in harsh environments
Continue to address recreation and tourism as industrial components
TOURISM

Develop destination resorts in and around the Monument
Develop a year-round regionally coordinated marketing plan
Fully fund the managing agency's interpretive programs
Develop a regional tourism network (Destination Marketing Organization)
Develop a user-friendly, unified (state and federal) fee system
Develop products and services that will enhance visitors' experience
Establish and fund a Special Use Permit process for the Monument
MANAGEMENT MODEL

Retain Forest Service management
o   Create an administrative unit consisting of existing Federal lands west of and including the 25 Road with no expansion of the Monument boundary
o   The Monument itself must be a line item funded from the Mandatory portion of the Forest Service budget
o This model should be used as a template for "Special Places" within the National Forest Service system, as the current model has failed
o Require an annual meeting with stakeholder groups

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE GIVEN FURTHER CONSIDERATION FOLLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT:

Congressional oversight
Ongoing role for the Advisory Committee
Cooperative Agency Status
Partnership agreements with state, local, federal entities and other stakeholders to include an annual meeting
Cooperation of counties on comprehensive planning on private lands adjacent to the Monument
Co Chairs

Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose   360-740-1120
Cowlitz County Commissioner Axel Swanson   360-577-3020
Skamania County Commissioner Paul Pearce, 509-427-3700

[Cascade_Sherpa]

Does Saudog or anybody else know what the outcome of townhall meeting on this was?

[saudog]

Just the locals stating their opinions in front of an advisory committie.  The advisory committie will report to the state reps. and then they will do pretty much what they want.

[Cascade_Sherpa]

   I see 3 different threads on this page regarding elk starving in the area and some group of MORONS comes up with this Idea
 I have posted this info on 3 other forums I visit also.

Thats because the tree huggers want to see wolves introduced into their "new park" at St. Helens.